Take a look down almost any Australian street and you will see infrastructure that has been there for decades: power poles.
They already form part of the everyday streetscape, supplying electricity to homes and businesses across our communities. But as Australia transitions towards electric transport, suitable power poles could also take on another role: helping drivers charge their electric vehicles.
This is the idea behind EVX polechargers. By installing compact EV chargers on suitable existing power poles, EVX is helping bring public charging closer to where people already park, particularly in areas where access to a private driveway or home charger is limited.
So, could the power pole on your street become part of Australia’s growing EV charging network?
Why Look at Power Poles?
Building a larger EV charging network does not always require building entirely new infrastructure.
Electricity is already distributed throughout Australian suburbs, and power poles are an established part of that network. Where a pole, surrounding parking and local electricity capacity are suitable, there may be an opportunity to use that existing infrastructure to support EV charging.
For EVX, this means looking at the streets we already have and considering how they can better support the way Australians are beginning to travel. Instead of requiring a large standalone charging station, an EVX polecharger can be mounted directly to a suitable existing power pole, creating a compact kerbside charging location.
Bringing Charging Closer to Home
For Australians with a garage or driveway, charging an EV at home can be relatively straightforward. Plug the vehicle in when you arrive home and allow it to charge while it is parked.
But not everyone has that option.
People living in apartments, terraces, townhouses and rental properties may depend on street parking. In established urban areas, adding private charging can also be difficult or impractical.
As EV ownership grows, charging infrastructure needs to work for these drivers too. Kerbside EVX polechargers are designed to bring charging closer to where vehicles are already parked. Instead of travelling specifically to a charging hub, drivers can potentially charge while their vehicle would otherwise be sitting at the kerb. This turns ordinary parked time into useful charging time.
Can Every Power Pole Become an EV Charger?
Not quite. While there are power poles throughout Australian communities, installing an EVX polecharger involves much more than simply choosing a convenient pole.
A potential location needs to be assessed before installation. Available electrical capacity is an important consideration. EVX works with the relevant electricity network providers to ensure there is sufficient supply and that the charger can be installed safely without overloading the local network.
The surrounding environment also matters.
There needs to be appropriate kerbside parking and enough space for drivers to access the charger safely. The location also needs to make practical sense based on expected demand and how the street is used. This is why site selection is an important part of growing the EVX network.
The goal is not to put a charger on every power pole. It is to identify the right poles in the right locations.
How Does EVX Decide Where Charging Is Needed?
Understanding demand is a major part of planning public charging infrastructure.
EVX considers real world data, parking patterns and local demand when identifying potential locations for polechargers.
Community requests can also help provide insight into where drivers would like to see better access to charging. If several residents in an area are interested in kerbside charging, for example, that can help demonstrate a potential need for infrastructure in that community.
This does not automatically mean a charger can be installed on a particular pole, as every proposed location still needs to go through the relevant assessment and approval processes. However, understanding where demand exists helps inform future network planning.
Why Pole Mounted Charging?
Public spaces need to accommodate many different uses, from pedestrians and parking to trees, street furniture and utilities. As EV charging becomes more common, infrastructure needs to be integrated thoughtfully into these existing environments.
EVX polechargers are designed with a compact footprint, using existing vertical infrastructure rather than introducing a large standalone charging structure wherever possible. This helps charging infrastructure fit more naturally into established streetscapes while still providing drivers with convenient access. EVX polechargers are also dual port, allowing two compatible vehicles to charge from the same unit. Each side can provide up to 22kW AC charging, depending on the vehicle’s own charging capability and other operating conditions.
For vehicles parked for longer periods, such as near home, this type of charging can provide a practical way to replenish the battery without requiring the speed or physical footprint of a large DC fast charging site.
Designed for Life on the Street
Installing charging infrastructure outdoors means it needs to be designed for the conditions it will face every day.
EVX polechargers are Australian designed and manufactured, with durability and long term reliability considered throughout their development. Units are tested for safety and weather protection before deployment, with features designed to protect components from outdoor conditions. Installations are also tested on site before becoming operational.
Once installed, EVX can remotely monitor and manage its polechargers, including carrying out firmware updates and adjusting certain parameters when required. On site maintenance can also be performed by EVX or its contractors when necessary. This combination of physical infrastructure and ongoing network management helps support a reliable public charging experience over the longer term.
Building a Network One Street at a Time
Australia’s future charging network will not rely on one type of charger.
Home charging will remain important for people who have access to it. Fast charging will continue to support longer journeys and situations where drivers need to recharge quickly.
Kerbside charging fills another important gap. By bringing charging into residential streets and other locations where vehicles already spend time parked, pole mounted chargers can help create a more distributed and accessible network. As more Australians switch to EVs, this mix of charging options will become increasingly important.
The infrastructure needed for that transition may not always require dramatic changes to our communities. In some cases, part of the solution may already be standing on the kerb.
Could Your Street Be Next?
A power pole alone does not make a suitable charging location. Grid capacity, parking, safety, demand and local approvals all need to be considered. But if your neighbourhood has growing EV ownership, limited access to off street charging or strong demand for convenient public charging, it may be worth putting your area on the EVX radar.
Community input helps EVX understand where kerbside charging is needed and where future locations could make the biggest difference.
